Author's note: 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea' was a kids book I just randomly picked, although I do own a copy and remember reading it as a child. Leaving food out for Santa and Rudolph is a British tradition, often accompanied by a glass of something alcoholic or a glass of milk for Santa, but I'm not sure if this extends to the US as well, but have included it anyway! As for twas the night Before Christmas, I've had the first few lines stuck in my head since the idea for the fic jumped in there, so it only seemed right to include it!
Twas the morning before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
All was quiet in the Messer household on Christmas Eve morning. Lindsay began to stir as the weak winter sunlight strained through the gaps in the curtains. She rolled over and patted the bed beside her, still empty as her husband worked a night shift. She groaned inwardly as she realised the baby was yet again pressing on her bladder. She heaved herself out of bed cursing under her breath as her feet met the cold floor. She gently caressed her belly as she murmured. "No more baby Messers, definitely no more. Danny can carry the next one if he wants another baby." She grinned as she pictured her husband pregnant, he would never cope with nine months of being pregnant, especially getting up every two hours to pee, Danny definitely needed his sleep. She checked the clock as she waddled out to the bathroom, 6:30 am. At least baby had given her an extra half an hour from its usual 'every 2 hours I lie on your bladder' schedule.
Bathroom visit over, Lindsay peered around Lucy's bedroom door, hoping she was still asleep so her tired Momma could go back to bed for a while. Lucy was sat up in bed in her favourite Cinderella pyjamas, her hair sticking up in every direction and he favourite teddy bear tucked into bed next to her. In her hands she held her favourite storybook 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea'. Lindsay sighed quietly; there was no chance of getting Lucy back to sleep now. "Hey Mommy." Lucy said brightly. "Me an' Ted are reading a story, so be quiet." Lindsay said nothing as she watched her daughter turn the pages of the book, pointing things out to her teddy bear. Lindsay frowned as she realised Lucy was holding the book upside down, but waited until Lucy had finished the book before saying anything to her. "Lucy, did you know the book was upside sweetie?" Lucy closed the book and put it on the bed next to her. "Silly Mommy, course I did. The tiger looks funny upside down an' Ted thought it was funny!" Lindsay shook her head and smiled. "Ok then sweetie, how about we go and get some breakfast?" Lucy threw back her bedcovers, burying Ted, as she raced to grab her slippers. "Yum Mommy! Can we have pancakes? Pweeeease Mommy." Lindsay nodded, "Sure baby girl, let's go."
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
Ali straightened the stockings hanging above the fireplace as Adam brushed his teeth in the bathroom. The pair had been virtually inseparable since Thanksgiving and Adam regularly stayed over at her apartment. Adam crept up behind Ali, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Oh cool, I get a stocking too!" He exclaimed, taking in the row of stockings, each neatly embroidered with the name of its owner. Ali turned around still encased in Adam's arms and tenderly kissed him on the lips. "Of course, all my favourite people get stockings." She grinned before kissing him again. "Although if you're late for work again Mac might not let you have Christmas day off, so you better get your pretty little butt out the door if you want to keep the boss happy." She turned him around, grabbed his bottom and steered him towards the apartment door. "But I don't wanna go to work!" Adam whined. Ali placed her head on his shoulder and whispered in his ear. "If you go to work like a good boy, I'll have a nice surprise waiting for you when you get home."
Lindsay opened the apartment door to find Ali and Adam stood in the neighbouring doorway kissing. Lucy covered her mouth with her hand and giggled, causing Ali and Adam to blush as they separated. Lucy was oblivious to the embarrassment she had caused and tugged on the sleeve of Ali's top. "Say bye to Mommy and Uncky Adam now Ali, they gots to go to work, and we got lots to do." She let go of Ali's sleeve and tried to push her mother and Adam away towards the elevator. "I said go to work Mommy!" She pouted as Lindsay moved only a few steps towards the elevator. "Don't I get a kiss goodbye baby girl?" Lindsay asked, pretending to be hurt. "No time for kisses Mommy, go to work!" Lucy replied. Lindsay smiled and handed over a bag containing Lucy's things to Ali, before she headed towards the elevator with Adam. They both stopped halfway down the corridor and turned back, just in time to witness Lucy tugging on Ali's arm to encourage her into the apartment. Adam turned to Lindsay and grinned. "She definitely knows what she wants that one!"
Later that morning Ali and Lucy stood in the kitchen baking. So far they had made several batches of cookies in a variety of shapes- Christmas trees, stars, angels, stockings and baubles. Lucy was impatiently waiting for the next batch to cool enough to be decorated and was chatting animatedly about what presents Santa was going to bring her. "The baubles are ready to decorate now Lucy; shall we use the icing pens this time?" Lucy nodded enthusiastically, trying not to fall off the chair she stood on to make her tall enough to reach the counter. "I'm gonna make one for Mommy, one for Daddy, one for Ted, one for Uncky Mac, and three for Santa so's he thinks I'mma good girl!" Ali grinned as she walked over to the oven to remove the next batch. Baking had become a bit of a tradition on the days Ali only had Lucy to look after, and boy did Lucy make the most of it. Ali carefully placed the hot tray on the oven top and turned to watch Lucy at work. She had a patch of flour on her nose, a strand of her brown hair had escaped from its rightful place in her ponytail, and the tip of her tongue peeked out of her mouth as she concentrated on neatly decorating the cookie. Ali silently reached across the counter for her camera, she knew this was a scene Lindsay would love to see, her whirlwind of a daughter awake and quiet! Ali snapped the photo and Lucy's face snapped up as she saw the flash. "Take a photo of my cookie Ali, its all pwetty!" Lucy grinned, holding the cookie up on the palm of her hand to show it off. "Look, it's a M for Mummy! Can you show me a D for Daddy, I forgot how it goes."
After writing most of the alphabet on the bauble cookies, and then forcing Ali to take individual photos of them all, Lucy's attention turned to the Christmas tree cookies. "Ok Luce, for these I have some extra special glitter to put on the cookies. It's not like the glitter we make pictures with though, you can eat this glitter!" Lucy's face lit up at the idea of this, and her blue eyes sparkled. "Wow, magic food glitter!" She grinned, reaching for the first of the cookies. "Whoa, steady on Lucy!" Ali exclaimed. "First I need to put some icing on first. So I'll put the icing on, and then you can put some green glitter on to make it look like a sparkly tree." Lucy enthusiastically tackled her role in the cookie decoration, despite managing to get more glitter in her hair and on her face than on the cookies.
Ali lifted Lucy down from her perch when a knock came at the apartment door. Lucy followed Ali from the kitchen, as curious as always to know what was going on around her. "Daddy!" Lucy squealed as Ali opened the door to reveal her father. "Hey kiddo." He yelped as Lucy crashed into him, before picking her up and giving her a kiss. Lucy placed a little hand on either side of her father's face and rubbed her nose against his in an Eskimo kiss. "Eww, Lucy you're all sticky!" he grumbled as Lucy peeled her hands away from his face. Lucy giggled as Ali apologised. "Sorry Danny, we're decorating cookies and it's gotten a little messy. I'll clean her up don't worry." Danny stifled a yawn as he placed his daughter back on the floor. "Go home and get some sleep Danny," Ali continued. "You're clearly exhausted, and Lucy's clearly hyped up with all the excitement. Go home, sleep for a couple of hours and come and fetch her when you're ready."
"You sure?" Danny yawned. "Yes, definitely! Now, say goodbye to your daughter and we'll see you later. Oh, and maybe wash your face, she's left a bit of icing on it!" Ali laughed as she swiped at the offending piece of icing stuck in Danny's beard.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
Danny and Lindsay eventually managed to get Lucy settled into bed, after she insisted on leaving out a large plate of cookies for Santa, and another equally large plate of carrots for Santa. "Ok Luce, time for you to go to sleep sweetie, remember Santa won't come if you're still awake." Lindsay informed. "I know Mommy, but can I pwease have another story." Lindsay turned to Danny with a pleading look in her eyes. They were both exhausted, and they still had to fetch all of Lucy's presents out of their hiding places once she eventually went to sleep. Danny leant forward and kissed his daughter. "No more stories now Luce, it's time for little children to sleep, and it's time for Mommy and Daddy to have some peace." Lucy pouted, but knew it was no use- once her father said no he meant it. Danny and Lindsay kissed their daughter again and crept out of her room, hoping her early start would mean she'd soon be fast asleep.
Once they were certain Lucy was asleep, Danny and Lindsay set about the mammoth task of retrieving all of Lucy's presents. As with previous years, it seemed that members of their extended family had cleared out a whole toy shop buying Lucy presents. Her 'family' from the lab were possibly the worst, filling the trunk of Danny's truck three times over with presents. They eventually finished placing her presents under the Christmas tree in the lounge, and fell into bed exhausted. Danny opened the draw on his bedside cabinet and pulled out a small box. "Lins', I thought you might wanna open your present early." He announced, handing the box to his wife. Lindsay stared open mouthed at the small package in his hands. "Well, aren't you gonna open it?" he gestured, pulling slightly on the ribbon wrapped around it. Lindsay stared again at the package before carefully unwrapping it. Her jaw dropped as she opened the box to find a ring sat inside it, three princess cut diamonds sat in a row on a platinum band. Danny took the ring out of the box and took his wife's left hand. "I never did give you an engagement ring." He smiled, as he slid the ring onto her finger.